Dr. Samuel LeFrak

Patron of the Arts

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Samuel J. LeFrak is chairman of the Lefrak Organization, founded in 1905, and today one of the world’s largest private building firms, with a major commitment to responsible community development with an accent on affordable housing. The company is also deeply involved in oil and gas exploration throughout the United States, through the division, LOGO, the Lefrak Oil and Gas Corporation.

Another extremely important facet to the company’s business profile is its ongoing multi-faceted involvement in entertainment. Broadway plays, musicals, television and motion picture production, book publishing, recording activities and music publishing are all part of the company’s diverse fields of activity.

The latter division, encompassing music and records, is of particular interest to new and upcoming artists and writers for whom the goals are to oversee career development, recording, packaging, promotion and distribution.

As the recording and publishing activities were first beginning to make their mark in the music field, LeFrak was quoted to the effect that “Music is my life and this is where I get my fulfillment.” Without question, many young and talented but undiscovered performers and writers who have the good fortune to be spotted by the Lefrak music interests are certain to benefit from the support of a true patron of the arts.

LeFrak is also an art collector of distinction, and has assembled a distinguished and diverse art collection, which has been made available to museums throughout the world.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, LeFrak also pursued graduate studies at Columbia and Harvard Universities and has been awarded honorary doctorates from Pratt Institute, New York Law School, Colgate University, Michigan State University, Queens College, St. John’s University and the University of Maryland.

LeFrak’s service on numerous boards of civic and public organizations, his tenure as visiting lecturer at major universities both here and abroad, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Oxford, and his receipt of literally scores of awards and commendations, are testament to his ability, his concern for his fellow man and his dedication to excellence.

Among the many accolades tendered to Samuel J. LeFrak are the John F. Kennedy Peace Award, Man of the Year Citation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Queens College Man of the Year Award, the Annual Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Flame of Youth Award from the Fund for Higher Education, and election to the Hall of Fame of the National Sales Executive Club.

LeFrak’s long-term affiliation with and support of the United Nations has earned him a number of awards and special recognition. He and former president Jimmy Carter, were honored by the UN for their world-wide work with “Habitat International.” During the same year, LeFrak presented an address at the UN entitled, “Planning for Urbanization in the 21st Century.” The United Nations
Distinguished Citizens of the World Award was presented to Mr. And Mrs. LeFrak at a UN Ambassador’s Ball in 199-4. In the same year, LeFrak was appointed by the then UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali as New York’s representative and member of the Advisory Group for the United Nations 50th Anniversary Celebration in 1995.

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Songwriters Hall of Fame’s ongoing mission is to celebrate and honor the contributions of our great popular music songwriters who have written the soundtrack for our nation’s history, while developing new writing talent through workshops, showcases, and digital initiatives.